3 possible candidates to replace Coleman as Wales manager

There has been much talk about Coleman's future as Wales boss, and with no commitment yet, Josh McLoughlin looks at 3 options Wales might pursue.

Wales manager Chris Coleman's future is still up in the air as they head into the final two games of their dismal World Cup qualifying campaign.

The FAW have apparently verbally agreed with the former Fulham manager that he can carry on for two more years. However they say they want to assess Wales' performance in the last two qualifiers, against Macedonia and then Belgium, something that Coleman is not happy about. Speaking ahead of the games he said "If people are talking about judging me on these two games, then what's the point? You can't go about it like that. I have said before, if that is the case I won't be the man to lead Wales forward because I am not sure if I would want to be involved in that set-up."

With his future undecided I have had a look at three potential people that could take over Chris Coleman.

Ryan Giggs

Whilst the Welsh wizard has yet to have a taste of management he has expressed his wish to do so in the future. Now a member of the Manchester United backroom staff, he is slowly edging away from his playing career towards the managerial side of things. He has said recently that he wishes to manage his country one day. Perhaps it is too soon, but then again Gary Speed had not been a manager for long before he took the Wales job, and he improved performances a great deal. It could be seen as a long-term appointment. No one employed can be expected to have immediate success and it would be wise to plan for the long term. He was apparently approached for the job before Speed and then Coleman took the reins.

Tony Pulis

Currently out of work after parting company with Stoke City at the end of last season, Pulis would surely be a leading contender if the FAW were looking for someone with a bit more experience. Tony Pulis has been a manager of six different clubs in his 20 years as a manager. His second spell at Stoke was hugely successful guiding them into the Premier League and turning them into an established top flight side. An FA Cup Final and a season in Europe are also on his CV. He has said that he would be willing to drop down into the Championship and try and build up a club like Stoke again. However if the Wales job was offered to him I find it hard to believe he would decline it.

Kenny Jackett

Another experienced Welsh manager is Kenny Jackett who is currently Wolves manager. Kenny has been a manager and an assistant for the last 17 years. His success has come via good spells at Welsh club Swansea and then Millwall. Currently in charge of guiding Wolves back into the second tier at least it is uncertain whether he would be ready for the Wales job yet. However he is well respected within the game and has a 43% win record in his managerial career. The FAW could do a lot worse though.

Aside from these three candidates there are a few other possibilities to take over from Chris Coleman. Craig Bellamy has said that he would like to manage his country one day, but I feel he is someone that would need a few years to develop as a manager. He would also need to control his temperament before taking such a job.

Dean Saunders is also a possibility having worked on the backroom staff for the country before. However his spell as Wolves manager may have set him back a few years, and will need more of a success story before stepping up.

Josh McLoughlin

Josh is a 21-year-old aspiring Football journalist based in Preston/Manchester and a huge Preston North End fan. His own blog aloadofballs1.wordpress.com takes a look at many Football issues from across the world and has attracted views from all over the world, from Nepal to Peru.